Leadership

1/5/2021

Dad Joke:   Jan said I should try to do lunges to stay in shape and help stretch my bad leg.   (Pause).   That would be a big step forward for me.     (Jan did not really say this, of course!)

Today's learning topic is on LEADERSHIP

To begin, from early adulthood, I stepped into leadership roles in school and sports. Later in life my career led to positions of greater and greater leadership in the organizations I was part of.    Why did this happen?  Why did I "attract followers”?  Was this a combination of innate abilities or learned traits?  Were my leadership tendencies a combination of personality, directive nature, bias to take charge, arrogance, a strong sense of self, ability to quickly organize, use the COPE method instinctively, (the COPE is "consolidate, organize, plan, execute”), and/or ability to get the job done?    I see in all the Bassier Children similar traits exhibited and view all of you as leaders with greater leadership potential.   (I refer you below to some clear key Leadership characteristics you got / learned from your MOM.)

As I aged, I learned true leadership is more about what you do for your people than about what your people do for you.   The death of Brian also humbled me, made me less arrogant, less pushy and more forgiving.   Whether you believe that or not I leave to you.

Here are some take-aways and easily recognized and remembered leadership keys: Start with communication.   Great leaders talk about everything to everybody.  (Obviously, there are ultimately some times where confidentiality is necessary.) 

My three Cs of Leadership:

Character:  having integrity, being honest, engendering trust, exhibiting high moral standards

Competence:  smarts, technical savvy, knowing your work, knowing your people, being organized, being a good planner, not always being the expert but surrounding yourself with expertise.

Connectivity:   can people relate to you, great communicator, foster-build-maintain relationships, treat people as people (not subordinates!), the human touch, don't be afraid to make the appropriate physical contacts. 

I realize that you are likely thinking about me as you read this.   That is okay.  But, think equally of your MOM.   Look at what she has done to temper your steel - especially in regard to your character and connectivity.   You kids are all admirably more sensitive and compassionate than me.  Where do you think you get this underlying important leadership and life-outlook from?   I have to "stop and think" and have learned to try to be more understanding and compassionate.   (In work situations, as I matured as a leader, I got better and better at this connectivity business.  Prior to that - Oh Boy Howdy - could I get things done and was rewarded, promoted etc. for this.)

There is a Swedish Proverb (picture a majestic three-masted sailing ship on the high seas):   "Rough waters are truer tests of leadership.  In calm water, every ship has a good captain."  Also, during rough waters (adversity) the character of a leader is best observed.

 Thus, during crises or tough times these Leadership actions are essential (again three C's for ease of recounting):

Compassion:   first and foremost, in all ways and at all times, communicate to your team and followers, compassion for their hardships, sorrow for their sufferings, acknowledgement that they have been hurt and are in the midst of the “worst of times”

Control:  you have to remain calm, steady and stalwart, no matter how your ship is being buffeted, demonstrate that there is a method to overcome challenges, that there is a plan, here is the plan, here is how we are "COPEing" to get through this.

Conviction:   During the difficulties convey the conviction that "we will get through this together", paint the picture of what the better future will look like, what lies ahead is the "best of times".

Real Life example:   During this whole CoVid business, I saw "leaders" in our highest political offices repeatedly fail to address followers with these three crisis C's and thus in my view fail to demonstrate essential leadership requirements during a crisis.

If I had their ear, I would have been telling them - address the nation "every day" starting with compassion to those suffering (all of us to a greater or lesser degree), explain a few things being done that show we do have control (model those things we can control), and convey a picture of what recovery is going to look like after we have endured the needed hardships to overcome this.

The world, families, schools, organizations, economic developers and background investigation teams all need leaders. 

Go, Shop, Do, Spend (well, maybe not spend so much!)

There you have it for today.

TAB